Chatham County Line "Wildwood"

"Don't mistake me for a Wildwood / A place to run and hide,” are the first lines of Chatham County Line's new album Wildwood. For the North Carolina based acoustic band, running and hiding are the last things you’ll find them doing. Well, no hiding, anyway, but in actuality, they are doing plenty of running! They release Wildwood today, which is their fifth studio album, and the first they've self-produced.

The band is more solid in their collective identity than ever before, comfortable in their musical skin. CCL brings timeless American flavors, in a tour de force singular, powerful organism. The ballet they do on stage is a wonder to behold, which we hope you get to see when they come to your town. And with sold out international tours, clubs, and festival appearances, the quartet; Dave Wilson (guitar, lead vocals), Chandler Hold (banjo), John Teer (mandolin, fiddle), and Greg Readling (bass) is on a ROLL. In Charlotte this past Friday, they sold more copies of their album after the show than they EVER had! And for a limited time, there is vinyl available, and it comes with a digital download version, too, which is the best of both worlds!

Compliments from fellow showcase musicians kept rolling in, after their performance for the Music Fog cameras at Threadgill's this past March. From that same session, here's Chatham County Line with the title track, "Wildwood."

- Jessie Scott

The Trishas "Trouble"

It's been a bit since we talked about The Trishas. All the while, the groundswell has been building. Seeing them in May, at KNBT's Americana Jam at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, confirmed two things for me: 1) They are better every time I see them play, 2) The audience is ENTRANCED with them!

Photo Credit: Todd V. WolfsonCongrats to Jamie on giving birth to daughter, Joan Aileene on June 17th, and to all the 'Auntie' Trishas. The band is returning to the road after Jamie's maternity leave. My friend Lynne Margolis wrote a piece that was just published on July 1st for Texas Music Magazine that gives some more back-story, and positions where The Trishas are right now. But last week, the artwork was sent to the printer for the forthcoming EP, due in August, and the tour dates are kicking back in, starting July 23rd at Dosey Doe Coffee House in Woodlands (Houston), TX, which we hear is a very cool room.

The baby is growing. The story is growing. The Trishas are becoming. While we wait for the future to get here, let's revisit the Threadgill's stage for "Trouble," recorded back in March during Music Fog's artist showcase.  See if you can spot the special guest "Trisha."

- Jessie Scott

The Northstar Session "You Come Up Like a Rose"

I spent the entire morning yesterday in serious investigation for something to put before you today. I get ten or twenty press release type emails a day from various publicists, artists, managers and labels. Some of them are easily discarded as they are pop, electronica, rap, and other styles that don't exactly meet the Music Fog mission. In digging down through the music that would fit, I am astonished to find so many artists I would LOVE to bring you, because I think they are worthy, but what they have posted on the web suffers from bad audio on their videos, poor production value, or at times, I can't even find available music to post, either audio or video. And promotion is the name of this game. Sad really. Y'all have the keys to the car in your own hands. Use the web...it can mean EVERYTHING! Or at least the start of everything!

Photo Credit: Rebecca Wilson Studio

So it is a delight when you find an entry that has it all. Good band, good tune, good video, good audio. YAY! Today, it's a band out of Los Angeles, The Northstar Session. Guitarist and producer Matthew Szlachetka reached out to me himself, as they recently released the new EP, Winter Collection (the first of three EPs they are putting out this year). You can see them at Los Angeles venues like the Hotel Cafe and The Mint, and other West Coast clubs, as they continue their touring march which initially supported their critically acclaimed debut record, New Prehistoric Times. Catch up with them this summer.

Check out this video for "You Come Up Like A Rose" which is the first off the EP Winter Collection.

- Jessie Scott